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Joan Bennassar
Man Emerging from the Water oil on canvas painting expressionst art

1984

About the Item

Title: Man Emerging from the Water Artist: Joan Bennàssar (Pollença, Mallorca, 1950) Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 100 x 81 cm Signature: Signed “Joan Bennàssar” in the lower left corner; dated on the reverse “VIII-X-84” Condition: Good, with original impastos clearly visible Framing: Unframed Date of Execution: 1984 DESCRIPTION This powerful work by Joan Bennàssar, titled Man Emerging from the Water, belongs to his 1980s period, characterized by intense gestural expression and vibrant pictorial matter. The male figure, constructed with energetic brushstrokes and earthy tones, emerges from a sea of thick, bluish strokes in a gesture that evokes rebirth or purification. The expressive treatment of the face, where features blend with the energy of the brushwork, is reminiscent of the strength found in European Neo-Expressionist painting. The abstract and dynamic background places the figure in a dreamlike, primal space, consistent with Bennàssar’s ongoing exploration of human origins and their spiritual connection to nature. The physical presence of the painting, with its bold use of impasto, conveys to the viewer a visceral, almost tactile experience of existence and the Mediterranean landscape. ARTIST BIOGRAPHY Joan Bennàssar Vives (Pollença, Mallorca, 1950) is a renowned Spanish painter and sculptor whose work bridges classicism, primitivism, and contemporary avant-garde. Trained at the School of Arts and Crafts in Palma under Jaume Mir, Bennàssar has developed a personal language that merges material strength with mythical and Mediterranean references. His art, always driven by passion, embraces error and imperfection as essential elements of human greatness. Deeply inspired by the Mallorcan landscape and Mediterranean culture, his work spans both painting and monumental sculpture, with the human being, nature, and a desire for spiritual connection as its core themes. He has exhibited in prestigious museums and galleries such as Es Baluard (Palma de Mallorca) and has participated in international art fairs including ARCO Madrid. His legacy continues to evolve, with his time divided between Pollença and Barcelona. SIMILAR RENOWNED ARTISTS Antoni Tàpies: For his material approach and expressive intensity. Georg Baselitz: For gestural force and distorted humanistic representation. Jean Dubuffet: For his interest in the primitive and use of raw techniques. Miquel Barceló: Especially in his early periods, for heavy impasto and Mediterranean themes. Emil Nolde: For his expressive use of color and texture.
  • Creator:
    Joan Bennassar (1950, Spanish)
  • Creation Year:
    1984
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 39.38 in (100 cm)Width: 31.89 in (81 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Barcelona, ES
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1155216306452

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